Xikou

Mountain town south of Ningbo, known for Chiang Kai-shek's residences and the Buddhist temples of Xuedou.

Xikou is a small town in the mountains south of Ningbo, best known as the birthplace of Chiang Kai-shek. His former residences and ancestral halls are scattered through the town and draw a steady stream of Chinese visitors, though few foreign tourists make the trip.

The setting is genuinely beautiful — the Shanxi River runs through the centre, flanked by old stone buildings and dense green hills. The Xuedou Temple complex nearby is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in eastern China, and a 33-metre seated Maitreya Buddha was added in 2008. The mountain trails around Xuedou offer good half-day hikes with views over the valley, passing two exceptional waterfalls.

Guide

Getting There

Xikou is about 45 kilometres south of Ningbo, reachable by bus from Ningbo South Bus Station in roughly 1.5 hours. High-speed trains connect Ningbo to Shanghai (1h15), Hangzhou (1h), and other major cities. From Ningbo station, take a bus or shared taxi to the Fenghua district bus station and change for Xikou. Day trips from Ningbo are straightforward; staying overnight allows you to see the town in the early morning before day-trip crowds arrive.

Guide

Things to Do

Xikou's attractions divide neatly between history and landscape. The old town and its streets of Qing-dynasty architecture hold the sites associated with Chiang Kai-shek; the surrounding mountains offer the Xuedou Temple complex and several impressive waterfalls reachable by trail or cable car.